Researchers at the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill found surges in the brain chemical dopamine in laboratory rats expecting doses of cocaine.

With carbon filament sensors attached to reward centers in the rats' brains, the researchers used signals to let the animals know they were about to receive cocaine. The dopamine levels surged immediately, indicating that stimulation occurs when animals anticipate receiving a drug.

"We're getting insight into what the brain is doing on a really fast time scale. No one else has been able to look at things on this time scale," said behavioral psychologist Regina Carelli, who conducted the research with analytic chemist Mark Wightman.

Because humans and rats respond to drugs in similar ways, the researchers said such dopamine surges are likely to occur in the human brain, as well.

The study may help in preventing relapses among people in addiction treatment.

The study's findings are published in the April 10 issue of the journal Nature.

Phillips, P., Stuber, G., Heien, M., Wightman, M., & Carelli, R. (2003) Subsecond dopamine release promotes cocaine seeking. Nature, 422: 614-618.

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